Miller Children's and Women's Hospital in Long Beach, California is kick-starting a new network to provide primary and specialty pediatric care.
Part of Fountain Valley-based MemorialCare Health System, the hospital has launched the Miller Children's Care Network, a comprehensive network designed to bring together an integrated network of pediatricians and specialists to improve care for patients across the South Los Angeles and North Orange County region.
"Our vision with the Miller Children's Care Network is to redefine pediatric health care in our region," said Dr. Graham Tse, Miller's chief medical officer. "By integrating primary care with our extensive network of pediatric specialists, we're ensuring families have seamless access to exceptional, quality-driven, coordinated care. The network also supports pediatricians by improving access, offering shared contracting and purchasing opportunities, enhancing data-sharing through electronic medical records, and fostering physician-to-physician collaboration."
WHAT'S THE IMPACT
In 2021, senior leadership at the hospital conducted nationwide physician surveys to assess the benefits and needs of joining an integrated network like the Miller Children's Care Network.
The critical themes identified included improving access to specialty programs and specialists; leveraging Miller's brand and educational programs; providing practice management and administrative support; introducing Epic electronic medical records to participating practices; and establishing contracting vehicles with multiple stakeholders.
Currently, the Miller Children's Care Network has more than 100 pediatricians, including MemorialCare Medical Group pediatricians and independent community pediatrician groups throughout the region.
According to the hospital, the integration supports the management of chronic conditions like asthma or gastrointestinal issues, as well as the treatment of complex or acute illnesses.
"This initiative underscores our commitment to setting new standards in pediatric medicine and enhancing the health and well-being of children in our communities," said Laurie Sicaeros, chief strategy officer, MemorialCare. "We've created an active and ongoing program to evaluate and modify practice patterns by a network's physician participants, creating a high degree of interdependence and cooperation among the physicians and their practices to improve timely access and ensure quality."
THE LARGER TREND
As one of only eight free-standing children's hospitals in California, Miller Children's and Women's treats nearly 13,000 children each year.
With maternal-fetal medicine specialists and neonatologists available 24/7, Miller cares for birthing people with both high-risk pregnancies and premature infants.
Jeff Lagasse is editor of Healthcare Finance News.
Email: jlagasse@himss.org
Healthcare Finance News is a HIMSS Media publication.